It’s once again hurricane season, when TV screens light up with colorful graphics of cones and swirly storms. From year to year, the National Hurricane Center makes small tweaks to official forecasts and graphics.

Hurricane Helene, arguably the worst natural disaster in state history, killed 107 and did an estimated $60 billion in damage. The 36th week of recovery commences this weekend just as the 2025 hurricane season gets started Saturday.

South Carolina residents are advised to prepare ahead of the season, which begins June 1, by making emergency plans with loved ones.

Eight months after Helene raked the CSRA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts an above-average 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.That has some Augusta neighbors reflecting on lessons learned from Helene.

The National Hurricane Center is expected to release its hurricane season predictions on Thursday, May 22. There is a 21% chance for another tropical storm to reach Tennessee in 2025, according to Colorado State University research.

Hurricane experts from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said they are expecting an above normal Atlantic hurricane season. The agency said it is anticipating up 13 to 19 named storms, of which six to 10 could become hurricanes and three to five could ramp up into a major hurricane, a Category 3 storm or higher.

The National Weather Service director says the hurricane center is fully staffed and that he will make sure local forecasting offices have necessary resources.